Mixed Media Blog

December 27, 2012

Resurrection by Claudette Dean

Claudette Dean’s Resurrection explores our societal understanding of human identity. Metaphorically, Dean’s piece speaks to the sameness that we are all born into. However, in the passage of life our very being becomes fragmented through the use of labels. Visually, Dean speaks personally to the visitor as she dissects her fragmented identity by boldly stating that she is “more than” each societal label ascribed her to her body. This notion of fragmentation is echoed in Candis Marshall’s Pilgrimage. Upon a cursory glance, Marshall’s piece appears to be a close up of a plant, with the plants body in the faded background. Metaphorically, the piece speaks to the passing of time, as two human-like figures appear to be making a pilgrimage together. Through the use of bold colors the two beings are made part of a large collective whole, and in their pilgrimage they are fragmented and made different from the whole.

View of the Northeastern Gallery

Steven Schmid’s pregnant female in Gedankenexperience visually echoes the works of the old masters, with a female softly clutching her swollen belly as her head is bowed in reverence and peace. Despite her peaceful pose, Schmid’s piece is awash in dark elements that speak to the fragility of one’s cultural acceptance and place in society upon birth of a child that is not societally deemed appropriate or acceptable. Apryl Burrows’ Independence 4.0 also echoes cultural acceptance and the struggle for equality. Burrows’ female is clad in a flesh colored gown of fabric strips and chains. Each strip contains an element from The Bahamian constitution pertaining to women’s rights and their right to vote. Despite the empowering words written on these strips, the gown is also awash in chains, which reflect women’s ongoing struggle for full freedoms and equality in The Bahamas.

Gedankenexperience by Steven Schmid

-AK

National Exhibition (NE) 6: Kingdom Come is currently on display
in T1 and T2.